Apparatus for dental surgery



Jan. 18, 1927.

R. NIEDERMANN APPARATUS FOR DENTAL SURGERY F'led Sept. l2, 1924 Y u s s n PII, Y N N .lill k Roafnr NIEDERMA mv @my a Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT NIEDERMANN, OF BONNDORF, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO MATTHUS BEHRINGER, OF WEIKI.ENDINV'GILN,` BADEN, GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR DENTAL SURGERY.

Application filed September 12, 1924, Serial No. 737,400, and in Germany November 2, 1923.

the nerves adjacent the point of injection are artifically stimulated to accelerate the return of these nerves to normal condition.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of this character in which the circulation of the blood adjacent the point of `injection is reestablished immediately after the operation has been completed, in order to discharge through this circulation of the bloodthe injectedV anaesthetic immediately fromk the affected portions. Y

It is furthermore an object of the invention to preventV the symtoms of local inflammation and of pain which are due to the combination of the injected anaesthetic with the blood, and to eliminate the necessity of iushing out the affected portion with some special sterilized fluid or the like.

`With these and numerous other objects in view, an embodiment of the apparatus for carrying out the method of stimulating the nerves is described in detail in the following specification, in which reference may be had to the accompanying drawings.

l In the drawings:

Fig. l is an elevation of a casing containing the principal elements of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is an elevation and partly sectional view of an electrode which is to be used in connection with the apparat-us;

Fig. 3 is a front view of a portion ofv this electrode;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on line '1 fl-fl* of Fig. 3, the electrode illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 being specifically intended for the treatment of the upper jaw;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing an electrode for the treatment. of the lower jaw;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of an electrode and partly in section for application to the outer surface of the jaw, and

Fig. 7 is a front View of the electrode illustrated in Fig. 6.

coil to two electrodes which are in the' operation utilized in pairs. One of these conductors may for instance lead to the electrode indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 and which is intended for application to the inner surface of the upper jaw. This electrode comprises an insulated handle lz, having a central longitudinal bore i through which the conductor from the secondary of the induction coil extends. Instead of passing the conductor through the bore in the interior of the handle, the end of the conductor may be provided with an attachmentfixture by means of which an electric conductive connection may be established between this conductor and a. straight wire or bar which is fixedly located in the interior of the handle h.

The electrode proper comprises a metallic member l which is bent into proper form, similar to other dental instruments intended to work on the teeth of the upper jaw, and this electrode may also terminate in an attachment fixture whereby it may be brought into electric conductive connection with the conductor permanently associated with the handle to complete the line of circuit from the conductor i, extending from the secondary of the induction coil, to the metal ortion d. The electrode terminates in a ead e which is properly shaped to engage over a relatively large surface portion the inner surface of the jaw.

In the use of this electrode it may be advisable to attach to this head portion e a small pad of absorbent cotton'or the like to soften the pressure at which the electrode may be forced against the jaw. For the purpose of facilitating the attachment of this pad and for retaining the same in proper position on the electrode, an S-shaped hook .traverses the neck portion of the electrode d and is bent in opposite directions at the projectingends.

The elect-rode illustrated in Fig. 5 is constructed vsimilar to that shown in Figs. 2,

tended tor'use on the inner surface ot the lower jaw 'and is therefor shoivn as having the characteristic curvature oitl dental instruments serving for operations at this part ot the mouth. The electrode 7c also terminates in a suitable head portion Z and is advisably provided with a hook n, similar to the retaining element f which is used in combinationwith the first described electrode.

rlllie electrode illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 also comprises a handle portion s made vpreferal'ily ot' insulating material and having either a bore 7" through Whichthe conductor may extend, or being provided with a longitudinal metallic element in the interior ot the handle provided With attachment fixtures for receiving companion iX- tures of a conductor and an electrode plate respectively.

This electrode is provided With a head portion c preferably consisting of nickel-plated sheet copper and bent so as to engage snugly a relatively7 large portion of the outer sur-- face of the jaw when suitably applied thereto'. The attachment of this electrode plate g/ to the handle s may be eliiected by plug or socket connection', similar to the attachment whichhasrbeen referred to above in connection With the electrodes and conductors respectively.

' The operation Will be understood from the above description, Immediately after the extraction ot a tooth or after the completion of any other operation which took place under a local anzesthetic, one ot the electrodes, as for instance the Velectrode illus- Atrated in Figs. Q, 3 and 4t or the electrode shoivn'in Fig. 5, is applied to the inner surface of the jaw at the point at Which the nerves were deadened' through the injection of the anzesthetic. The companion electrode shown in Fig. G is then placed in opposition thereto on the other surface of the j aw and a circuit is then completed through the battery and the primary of the induction coil. since the circuit through the secondary is completed by Way ot these electrodes and the portion oi the janT which is located between these electrodes. The` outer aswell as' the inner electrodes are slowly reciprocated near thisV affected portion for about one or two minutesv for the purpose of causing a thorough passage of the current through the usiamoV v affected part7 a stimulation of the nerves surrounding the affected portion. rl`his stimulation initiates the circulation of blood and the injected aneesthetic is flushed out together with the blood from the puncture ivliich has been made for the purpose of injection. Kp t v The present invention makes use of the Well known fact that certain parts of the human body are stimulated by electricity and the present apparatus makes .use of this tact for the purpose described. The antest.hetic is immediately ejected by the restoration ot the circulation and the numbness, Which is a disagreeable sensation for the patient, is greatly relieved. i

The invention also renders it possible thereby to make use of larger quantities of local aneesthetics than have beenused heretofore and it is a very Well known fact that a complete painless extraction of teeth or other painless operations cannot be carried out when a small quantity only of the anaesthetic is injected.

I claim: i Y

l. A pair of electrodes 'for use in dental surgery comprising one'electrode connected to the positive terminal4 of asource of cur rent supply and the other electrode connected to the negative terminal of the source of current supply, each electrode being provided With an insulated handle havingla conductor extendingtherethrough, one ot the electrodes having a suitable contact head formed at the end of its conductor tor use on the inner surface of the jaw, and thel second electrode having an elliptical shaped Contact for use on the outer surface of the jaw, the electrodes being respectively placed on the inner and outerY surface of a selecte(v portion of the jaw for completinga circuit tl'irough the jaw-tofstimulate the circulation inthe said selected portion ot the jaw.

2. A pair Aot' electrodes for use in dental surgery for stimulating the Ycirculation through a selected portion ot a jaiv comprising one yelectrode having an insulated handle, a conductor extending through the handle, asuitable contact head at one end oiE the conductor for contacting the inn-er surface ot the jaw, means adjacent the head for receiving and holding a sivabot cotton about the contact head, the second electrode comprising'an insulated handle. a conductor ektending through the handle.I and an elliptical shaped contact at one end of the conductor for *contacting the outer surface et the jaw. the electrodes being respectivel;v placed on the inner and outer v.surface ot the j aw for completing a circuit through the juiv- 'In Witnessivhereof I aiiix myjsignature.

ROBERT 

